Thanks Padraig- I was hoping you would give me some ideas. I will look at these ideas and of course plan to seek counsel from a priest. I've already asked our young priest to come for dinner. I will ask him for some guidance if he comes- otherwise I'll tackle this in my next confession with one of the other priests. thanks for your patience, Kath
He would be a very good young priest if he knew anything about this stuff, Kathleen, a very good young priest indeed. I would be looking for an older priest of great maturity, possibly a religious. They don't teach stuff like this in the seminaries anymore, they have to learn it on the hoof most of the time. I never had any difficulty in believing in the devil, for, looking at the world , who could? But even so the first time I encountered him directly it was a big, big shock and a real eye opener. At the end of the day you don't really get the full picture from books, no matter how good, its a matter of getting in there with your sleeves rolled up. For instance meeting a possessed person is astonishing. Experience is irreplacable. Blessed salt is also excellent. Just buy some salt and take it to the priest to bless, I keep mine in lovely little porcelain containers to honour it. An open bible in the bedroom helps too. I am very sorry indeed th Franciscans have stopped doing excorcisms in Medugorje, they say pilgrims got frightened. But folks need a little fright these days. I do hope the modernist rot is not setting in out there.
I find it very strange that our church is so swayed by modernity. But each priest has a free will and choice as we all do. I only seek counsel from this young priest out of shyness- I've already been talking to him about other stuff. We do have a Franciscan in our community who I have found to be very kind and supportive (I burst into tears after confession once at his words of kindness). I imagine he is who I should be seeking out. I feel so isolated though- I need a buddy (like you guys) to shore me up. I won't give up though. I know better now. Too much suffering has occurred already due to lack of action. I used your story about waking up to see the devil in your room one night with my friend to help her know that the more she discovers about the devil the less he will bother to hide. I really pray she starts using the Rosary regularly. Salt is next on the grocery list.
You know, many of the rosaries and crucifixes sold in Medjugorje now have Saint Benedict medals on them, or in them or attached to them. These medals are all over Medjugorje, in fact. Also, when we went in March, we had a very famous Healing priest with us. His name is Fr. Rookey, and he is in the Chicago area. He is 93, and is so well known there that though we were staying at Mirjana's house, people were coming there to see HIM, instead of her! We heard lots of stories, and I think there are more priests who are involved and knowledgable in possessions than we think. I believe they just are quiet about it, as the Church does try to keep it low-key nowadays. There are two young priests in Milwaukee who were called to the priesthood in Medjugorje, and who are not afraid to take on a difficult case. They are wonderful, both of them. Fr. Rick Wendall and Fr. Mike Lightner. Just in case anyone wants to know: http://frrookeyicm.org/home http://www.jmjmediagroup.com/frriwebi.html http://www.jmjmediagroup.com/frmilibi1.html
